Hat-fastener.



No. 678,623. Patented July I6, 1901.

M. L. LINCOLN.

HAT FASTENER.

(Application filed Feb. 26, 1898.- (No Model.)

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MARTHA L. LINCOLN, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

HAT FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,623, dated July 16, 1901.

Application filed February 26 1898- Serial No. 671,758. (No model.)

To a, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTHA L. LINCOLN, of the city and county of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ladies Hat- Fasteners; and I do hereby declare that the following, taken in connection with the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification, is a description of my invention sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to practice it.

My invention relates to that class of hatfasteners which engage the hat to the head by attachments wholly out of View when the hat is adjusted to the head; and it consists, essentially, of acomb used in pairs,- in combination with elastic bands which are attached to both comb and hat.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents a front View of the comb, elastic bands, handle, and eyelet-fastenings,also in dotted line the bands stretched out preparatory to adjustment in the hair. Fig. 2 represents the outline-section of a hat with my improved fastener attached thereto.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

A indicates a coinb, B the straps by means of which it is secured to the hat, and O the handle by means of which it is manipulated. Each end of the comb is perforated,as also the ends of the straps, and eyelets D are passed through the holes in the comb and one end of each of the straps, thereby rigidly securing the ends of the straps to the comb, so that the straps will normally lie flat against the side of the comb, transversely of the length of the comb, or parallel with the teeth. The length of the straps is substantially the same as the length of the teeth of the comb, and the free end of each of the straps is provided with an eyelet D, by means of which it may be secured to the interior of the hat. The straps are preferably formed from a piece of webbing or elastic, so as to be sufficiently yielding to permit of the comb being drawn down and the teeth engaged with the hair of the wearer and then released, when the retraction of the elastic strap will draw the teeth up into the hair, and thus secure the hat against accidental displacement.

By making the straps of about the same length as the width of the comb the free ends of the straps can be secured to the interior of the hat just far enough above the brim to normally hold the comb out of sight, yet will permit of its being drawn down sufficiently to engage with the hair of the wearer. This construction will permit of the fasteners being used withvery low crowned hats, and yet be invisible in use, which would not be the case with a longer or different construction of strap.

By securing the straps fiatwise to one side of the comb at one end and to the interior of the hat at the other the pull or draw of the strap will have a tendency to slightly tilt the teeth inward, so as to engage with the hair, yet the comb will be flat against the interior of the hat when not in use, which would not be the case if the fastener-had curved or bent teeth.

The handle C is rigidly secured fiatwise to the comb intermediate its ends, so that the comb can be drawn down evenly or either end can be drawn down to a greater or less extent, thereby permitting of its being inserted in the hair in the most convenient manner.

The combs are preferably used in pairs, one upon each side of the hat and may be constructed of any suitable material. Owing to the strength of the straps required with such short length to render the device operative and the difficulty of sewing through elastic material I find the use of an eyelet in the free ends of the straps very desirable in securing the fasteners to the interior of the hat.

The handle may be wholly within the hat or it may project, as owing to its short length and small size it is not noticeable even if it should project below the brim a short distance.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent A hat-fastener comprising a comb, the back of which is provided with three perforations one at each end and one in the middle, an

outwardly-extending handle at the middle perforation and an inwardly-extending elastic band at each end perforation, and an eyelet through each perforation and through the handle and the bands respectively, the free end of each band being perforated and pro- Vided with an eyelet.

MARTHA L. LINCOLN. Witnesses:

EDWARD E. LINCOLN, JAMEs H. BRAINERD. 

